Programme Details

On Night Waves Michael Portillo and Geoffrey Wheatcroft, author of The Strange Death of Tory England, join Paul Allen to discuss whether rumours of Tory England's demise are premature.

The Irish novelist Dermot Bolger reveals the extraordinary story behind his new book, The Family on Paradise Pier.

Lyn Nead asks why we have so much fun reinventing the Victorians in the light of the BBC's new television version of Sarah Waters' Booker-nominated novel Fingersmith.

And Carol Rutter reviews the RSC's new revival of a play about Thomas More, written partly by Shakespeare.

Plus, Maureen Freely reflects on the moment when Constantinople officially became Istanbul, 75 years ago next week.

Night Waves, live at 9.30pm here on BBC Radio 3.


Presenter: Paul Allen
Producer: Phil Tinline



Additional Information:
1) The RSC's production of Thomas More continues at the Swan Theatre in Stratford in repertory as part of the Gunpowder Season until 3 November, before going to Newcastle. www.rsc.org.uk
2) The Strange Death of Tory England by Geoffrey Wheatcroft is published by Allen Lane.
3) The Family on Paradise Pier by Dermot Bolger is published on by Fourth Estate.
4) Fingersmith begins on BBC1 on Easter Day at 9pm. A documentary, Sarah Waters: Sex and the Victorian City, is on BBC4 on Easter Monday at 8pm. http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/fingersmith/
6) Maureen Freely's translation of Orhan Pamuk’s book Istanbul: Memories of a City is published by Faber later this year. You can hear an interview with Orhan Pamuk on Night Waves on 14 April.